Pollock was terrific. I think he freed himself of all kinds of worry about this world. Ran around and dripped, and then he managed to express ecstasy.
AGNES MARTINPollock was terrific. I think he freed himself of all kinds of worry about this world. Ran around and dripped, and then he managed to express ecstasy.
AGNES MARTINThe happiness of every living thing is what we want.
AGNES MARTINAny material may be used but the theme is the same and the response is the same for all artwork.
AGNES MARTINWhen you look in your mind you find it covered with a lot of rubbishy thoughts.
AGNES MARTINI used to meditate until I learned to stop thinking.
AGNES MARTINI think our minds respond to things beyond this world. Take beauty: it’s a very mysterious thing, isn’t it?
AGNES MARTINIt is commonly thought that everything that is can be put into words.
AGNES MARTINAll that seems like error is not error; and it all has to be done. That which seems like a false step is the next step.
AGNES MARTINThe Minimalists are idealist. They want to minimise themselves in favour of the ideal. But I just can’t. You see, my paintings are not cool.
AGNES MARTINI think it’s a response in our minds to perfection. It’s too bad, people not realizing that their minds expand beyond this world.
AGNES MARTINWe all have the same concern, but the artist must know exactly what the experience is. He must pursue the truth relentlessly
AGNES MARTINI would like my work to be recognized as being in the classical tradition (Coptic, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese), as representing the Ideal in the mind. Classical art cannot possibly be eclectic.
AGNES MARTINIt’s through discipline and tremendous disappointment and failure that you arrive at what it is you must paint.
AGNES MARTINWhat I say is that we’re capable of a transcendent response, and I think it makes us happy. And I do think beauty produces a transcendent response.
AGNES MARTINYou have to penetrate these and hear what your mind is telling you to do. Such work is original work.
AGNES MARTINDoing what you were born to do … That’s the way to be happy.
AGNES MARTIN